The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

OF inference. To attempt to speak OF materials,
we know not what: Of condition, surely differ
ent from any that have ever come under our OBJ
eervation, be little less than guessing.
When we have gone with Jules Verne on a
Journey to the Center OF the Earth" then
may bring back some account of
the enormous subterranean laboratories
which exist beneath us perpetually active
the workshops of Vulcan, where are forged moro
forms of force than NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which
we are beginning to hberate and utilize In
explanation of the results of these analyses of
Trenton gas it becomes necessary to find
probable source of free hydrogen. Our thoughts
naturally turn to water as the most abundant
and universally distributed source of hydrogen,
especially as in these latter DAYS are manu-
featuring what is called water gas" by passing
steam over coke. We may thus have coal gas
and water gas. all existing in nature and initiated
in our manufactures, and all of them infiammable.
The water gas is not an illuminating gas, but an
exceedingly hot one-;he very properties of free
hydrogen-and the same qualities found in
most of the Trenton gas. There are several
ways by which the constituent elements OF water
may be liberated in our laboratories. As is well
known, water is formed by chemical union of
the two elements hydrogen aud oxygen-a fact
which is recognized in the very name hydrogen,
which means water maker" We can break up
this union in various ways and set the two gases
free. Oxygen. when free, is a very greedy fell
low, ready to combine with almost anything
that presents itself, end forming such close
combinations that it IS very hard to break them
up. DO, IL Llo tFO gases nave Uceu SCI lEoc
from water, oxygen at once enters into
new combinations with the materials at hand,
notably metals and carbon, and hydrogen is left
to go on its way rejoicing. In the laboratory
water may be broken up into these two constit-
uent gases by passing current of electricity
through it; by passing 1t in the form of steam
ever redhot metals. as iron; by bringing it into
contact with certain other metals which have
very strong liking for oxygen, such as sodium of
potassium. which will rob the water of its oxy-
gen and set the hydrogen Free Other methods
of the laboratory could be enumerated, but
these will serve to illustrate So far we
know any or all of these methods may be in act
i've operations beneath us, and may have been
liberating vast quantities of hydrogen for an in
definite time. There is nothing in science
against the suppositlon that any amount of free
hydrogen exists beneath US, more or less locked
up by impervious rocks; IN fact, If we call in
the testimony of the spectroscope in reference
TO the structure of the sun and stars. we obtain
Information positively in its favor That water
exists abundantly in the crust of tho earth no
doubts. that electrical currents are constant
ly passing through it is a matter of common OBJ
servation, that great heat exists beneath US has
been demonstrated, and that vast deposits of
metal. and especially iron, exist abundantly,
cannot be disputed. In short. all the condirons
fer liberatng hydrogen are present and why
not the hydrogena OF the methods suggested,
two seem the most likely, viz: the passing of
steam over coke (which is carbonl and the pass-
ing of steam over hot metals. l would not be
misunderstood. do not say positively that
Trenton gas is formed in this way. but simply
that if the analysis to which 1 refer prove to be
correct, and which show the main percentage in
the composition to be free hydrogen, and not
marsh gas, then does Trenton gas differ much
in its structure from other more superficial
CAGES that have been obtained. that we should
look to different explanation OF its origin, and
in that event the methods suggested seem most
reasonable. Thus you see that the subject is
hedged about by quite an array of contingencies.
and | must be scientific enough not to speak
positively in the midst OF SO great uncertainty.
If the other analysis of Trenton gas prove TO be
correct, such as that reported by Professor How
ard. of Columbus, to Professor Orion. State
Geologist of Ohio for the gas of the Findlay
wells, and quoted by Mr.. Thompson in his recent
geological report. and which gives marsh gas
forming nearly 90 per cent of it. then it would
seem necessary to revert to the old theory OF or
ganic origin. To SUM up the real answer to the
question, what is the origin of Trenton gas! we
would say, it may be this or it may be that, but
as yet we don't know which This statement,
however, has no reference to the gas of the oil
regions. and of more superficial strata for
think there can hardly be any question as to
their organic origin.
Two objections to the water-eas theory have
been made which may be worth mentioning. II
subterranean water is the source of this gas, and
this water is universally distributed, why is not
gas universally distributed and so found the
world over2 It could be answered that the col
lecting of gas seeps to necessitate a Gaping of
impervious rocf and also a disturbed condition
of the strata, fitting them somewhat and allow
ing the gas freelpassags from below. IT, then,
this gas is to berestricted to regions of disturb
ance the question arises why is it not found in
all the regions OF disturbance. notably mount
ain regions. where disturbance has been most
intensea By regions of disturbance favorable to
the accumulation of gas is not meant those re-
gions of violent disturbance where the whole
rock crust has been broken and shattered. for in
such regions gas would be free to escape and
could not accumulate. This fact is shown in the
&c ,h- zH
great disturbance the gases from organic decay
have escaped, and we have not accumulations of
gas or oil. but their solid representative asphalt
In the absence. then, of all sure surface indi-
cations, in our ignorance to the topography
of our deep-seated strata in view Of the enor-
nous advantage of obtaining both information
and gas, would say that we would be justified
in making thorough test of the matter through
out the State. not running any ruinous
risks, for man would be justified in jeopardiz-
ing his living upon the chances of a gas we'll.
We can always be sure of information, if not of
gas, and, from the geological standpoint, the
former is the more valuable. In order though,
that We may reap the very largest results from
this extensive experiment being tried in the
State, it should be considered a bounden duty to
preserve faithful record of material and depth
at every WELL That these may be made easily
accessible for examination by workers on the
subject, they should be permanently kept at
some one place, and / know of no place more
convenient than the rooms of the State Geolo-
gist 1t must oe SAID. though, that all records
are not equally trustworthy. some of them, I'M
doubtedy. having been tinctured with ignorance
or fraud.
I would like to give this word of caution.
Natural gas is a good thing: magnificent agent
just liberated from its long confinement, to do
our work. 1t undoubtedly will modify many Of
our methods and will be made another factor in
our astonishing progress. But it must not
become to our eyes as the wizard of the cara
bian Nights" whom poor fisherman released
from his loIg confinement, and presently he
seemed to fill the whole heaven with his prodig-
ious proportions Because gas is good thing,
1t does not follow that it is everything; because
we are reioiced at its discovery, we need not be-
come wild; because it furnishes an unexpectedly
cheap fuel it does not follow that all the world
manufactures will be established in our midst;
because the present excitement is bringing many
strangers to u.s. it does not follow las heard
the other day) that all the wealth and intelli-
gence in the United States will one day be con-
centrated in Ohio and Indiana; because a good
gas well has caused sudden rise in the property
| of a town, farms two or three miles out need
not be staked off into town lots In short, my
| friends, when a man is excited he talks lot of
rubbish, which he is heartily ashamed of after
wards. and predict that when we settle down
to our sober sense again many an Indiana town,
with its ''best gas welln and real estate BOOM
will quietly sit down and warm itself By its
newly found fuel, will thank its lucky stars that
fires no longer have TO be kindled will offer its
lots at nearly the same old figure and that will
be all The probable results are fair enough to
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